Bill to alert drivers exceeding the speed limit vetoed in California

SACRAMENTO, California: California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have required new cars to alert drivers if they exceed the speed limit.

The proposed law would have made California the first state to mandate such systems in all new cars, trucks, and buses starting in 2030, aiming to reduce traffic fatalities by beeping when drivers exceed the speed limit by at least ten mph.

Newsom explained that federal law already sets vehicle safety standards, and adding state-specific requirements could create a "patchwork of regulations." He also noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems, and state-level mandates could disrupt these ongoing federal efforts.

Opponents of the bill, including automotive groups and the state Chamber of Commerce, argued that such regulations should be determined at the federal level. Republican lawmakers added that the proposal could increase vehicle costs and potentially distract drivers. Earlier this year, the federal government introduced new requirements for automatic emergency braking to help curb traffic deaths.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener, would have likely influenced all new car sales in the U.S. because of California's significant market size. Historically, California has used its market power to shape national policies, such as its stricter emission standards and plans to phase out gas-powered cars.

Wiener expressed disappointment with Newsom's veto, calling it a setback for street safety. "California should have led on this crisis as Wisconsin did with the first seatbelt mandate in 1961," he said.

The speeding alert technology, known as intelligent speed assistance, uses GPS to compare a vehicle's speed with posted limits. If the vehicle exceeds the speed limit by ten mph, a visual and audio alert is triggered. While the European Union has mandated similar technology in all new cars starting in July, it can be turned off by drivers.

Speeding-related crashes are a significant problem in California, where 35 percent of traffic fatalities in 2021 were linked to speeding-the second highest rate in the U.S., according to legislative analysis.